Catalytic Converter Thefts Surge Across the Inland Empire: Why Crown Victorias and Ford SUVs Are in the Crosshairs

Ontario, CA — Across the Inland Empire, a quiet crime wave is costing Ford owners thousands — and most don't know they're a target until they turn the key and their car sounds like a dragster.\n Catalytic converter thefts have surged across San Bernardino County over the past year, and mechanics at Ontario shops say two vehicles show up on the lifts more than any other: the Ford Crown Victoria and the Ford Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility.

"We've had three Crown Vics towed in this month alone, all missing cats," said a technician at a Mission Boulevard repair shop. "The P71 sits high, the converter is right there, and one cut with a battery saw takes about ninety seconds."

Why Ford Vehicles Are Prime Targets

Thieves target catalytic converters for the precious metals inside — platinum, palladium, and rhodium — which can fetch hundreds of dollars at a scrap yard. Certain Ford models are especially vulnerable:

• Crown Victoria (P71): High ground clearance and a large, easily accessed converter make it one of the easiest vehicles to hit.
• Ford Explorer / Police Interceptor Utility: The SUV platform sits high enough to slide under without a jack, and the converters are valuable.
• Older F-150s: Also common, but the Crown Vic and Explorer dominate the local reports.

The Sound Every Ford Owner Should Recognize

When a catalytic converter is removed, the exhaust is suddenly unrestricted. The vehicle will:

• Roar loudly on startup, like a straight-piped race car
• Sputter and run rough at idle
• Smell of raw exhaust and, sometimes, raw fuel
• Trigger a check-engine light (often codes P0420 or P0430)

If you start your Ford and it sounds like a NASCAR truck, do not drive it. Driving without a converter can damage the engine, trigger a fire risk, and guarantee you'll fail a smog check in California.

What's Driving the Surge

Law enforcement and insurance analysts attribute the rise to a combination of factors: the high street value of precious metals, the speed of the theft, and the fact that the crime often carries lighter penalties than other property offenses. In the Inland Empire, where many residents drive older domestic vehicles and patrol units cycle into the used market, the pool of easy targets is large.

"These aren't masterminds," one Ontario patrol deputy noted. "It's a cordless saw and sixty seconds. The best deterrent is making your car the harder one to hit."

How To Protect Your Ford

• Park in a garage or well-lit area whenever possible. Thieves work in the dark.
• Etch your VIN or license plate onto the converter. Many local sheriffs' offices run free etching events.
• Install a catalytic converter shield — aftermarket plates make the saw cut far harder and slower.
• Motion-activated lights in your driveway spook most opportunists before the first cut.
• Listen to your car. If the startup note changes, get it inspected before you drive.

If It Happens To You

File a police report immediately — many insurance carriers require one before covering a replacement. Then have the vehicle towed to a shop that knows Ford exhaust systems. A botched replacement can throw codes, fail smog, and cost you twice.

At Crown Vic Guys in Ontario, we replace converters on Crown Victorias and Police Interceptors every week. We weld proper flanges, use CARB-compliant converters for California smog, and get you back on the road legal.

If your Ford suddenly sounds like a race car — or you want a shield installed before it does — book a service and let us put our hands on your exhaust.

This story is brought to you by Crown Vic Guys — Ontario's specialists for Crown Victoria, Police Interceptor, and Ford fleet service.